More books

[squirrella]

Running with Scissors, Augusten Burroughs
Hilariously disgusting, this book was my bedtime reading. I read a few chapters every night and found the each to be car-crash-rubbernecking interesting. At times, I felt I should look away, skip over this or that part; at other times, I wanted more details. Not the best book I've read lately, but a worthy read. If you like dysfunctional novels, and aren't grossed out by reading slightly homoerotic passages, definitely try this book.

The Mermaids Singing, Lisa Carey
I got this book through reserves at my library and immediately set about reading it yesterday at work. I made it through the fifth chapter (they're short), and then put the book down. Reading it, I couldn't help but be reminded of another similar story and then imagined that at some point, I'd been on some mermaid-myth-Irish-pirate-three-generations-of-estrangement-novel-reading kick. And, I'm just not in the mood for that type of read right now.

Then, I went home, prepared to finished RwS, and spied on my bedside bookcase Carey's book. I had a bookmark about halfway through the book which means either I stuck it in there at random, or I got halfway through the book some 4 or 5 years ago and then called it quits. I'm going with the second option. I'm also returning my borrowed copy and likely selling my personal copy.

A Map of the World, Jane Hamilton
I started this after deciding Carey's book wasn't for me. It's another Oprah pick, which should be an immediate turn-off--yet, for some reason, I cannot stop gravitating unconsciously to the Oprah picks. I'm up to page 35 and I'm slightly hooked... I'll read up through 50 or 75 and see how I feel then.

Next up, Amy and Isabelle, by Elizabeth Strout. I've read good reviews about this '98 book, so I'm eager to see if it is worth the hype.

Comments

[asimplelife.livejournal.com]

I loved RWS. I started it during the week-long power outage a few years ago, and finished it in one day. I then subsequently plowed through his two other books (which weren't as good, IMO, but some people prefer Dry to RWS).

I want to see the movie, but part of me is scared.

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

yeah, i definitely want to see the movie but i also wonder just how they can adequately transfer the writing to film without it having a NC-17 or X rating...

[travellight.livejournal.com]

Loved Magical Thinking, had to stop reading Running with Scissors.

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

and I can completely understand why. overall, I enjoyed reading the book, but there were times when it was pathetically predictable and other times when it seemed to be ridiculous for the sake of being ridiculous.

i'll have to check out Magical Thinking, though, for sure.

[frog-lady.livejournal.com]

Have you read anything else by Jane Hamilton? I've read three of her books* and really liked all of them, despite my initial antipathy to the idea of reading anything on Oprah's booklist.

*(Map of the World, Short History of a Prince, and The Book of Ruth)

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

No, this is my first book of hers. I think if I can just get past the whole "Oprah did it! Oprah did it!" I'll really enjoy it, though.

[slockwoo.livejournal.com]

I read the book of ruth YEARS ago. I recall liking it but do not recall anything about it.

[frog-lady.livejournal.com]

Same here. It was one of the first dozen or so books I borrowed from my dad when I was starting to read new fiction...

[slockwoo.livejournal.com]

I believe Map of the World is the book that was also made into a movie. Good read.

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

hmmm. i like books that are movies because it lets me do a little cross-promotion in the library.

[laurushka.livejournal.com]

We got a book on tape by the guy who did Running with Scissors. We couldn't listen to more than 20 minutes of it.
Question: how do you get so much done?
Yer awesome.

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

sometimes, i get in the mood for a disgustingly dysfunctional read. i don't know if i could listen to this guy on tape as i often found myself annoyed with the book (annoying in that some of it was rather predictable and read like a formula novel).

how do i get so much done reading-wise? because i read fast. really really fast. if i threw in the children's books i read, MAN, my daily total would be insane. as it is, i can get in about 100 or so pages over lunch--fiction, though. non-fiction i savor in a different way.

[cubicalgirl.livejournal.com]

I know someone who grew up on the same street where the doctor in RWS lived. I think her mom knew him somehow. I loved that book, but just remember not being able to believe it was a true story. Crazy!

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

yeah, it was hard to read it when i'd remember, "This is all true!" but, also, that made it more intriguing...

[hooded-nubbins.livejournal.com]

RWS was a really odd book. I had it on audio CD having bought it for a drive to Tennessee and Augusten read it. I nearly turned the whole thing off when the Dr. was going through his "my poo is a sign" phase, but ended up making it through to the end. Really, super odd book. I think I liked it? I'm not sure... I just wonder how much of it is real.

As far as "I'm gay and proud and here's a story about it" books go, I think David Sedaris is loads better than Burroughs.

[squirrella.livejournal.com]

i've not read Sedaris, but i'm going to check him out, next. i agree with you--it was an odd book. and i did have to ask how much of this is truly true and how much of this is shock fiction?

[hooded-nubbins.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I was asking myself through the whole thing. I couldn't tell if it was real or not.

You will love Sedaris... he is without a doubt one of the funniest writers I've ever come across. His stories about his brother "The Rooster" were so funny, I had to stop reading in the middle because I couldn't see the pages anymore. I was just crying with laughter.